Musicolatry: Viva La Vida Review
by Shiraz Noor
Artist: Coldplay
Album: Viva La Vida (2008)
There were great expectations for Coldplay’s follow-up to their definitive masterpiece A Rush of Blood to the Head, the 2005 album X&Y. EMI was in a rut because the release of X&Y had been delayed three months, and were banking on sales of over 10 million copies of the album by the end of the year in order to get back on their feet. Little wonder, then, that the album itself was Coldplay’s most accessible yet, often disappointingly generic and too similar to its predecessor. Sure the production was great, and it had a few tunes (notably the title track, X&Y) that were splendid in their own right, but on the whole you got the feeling that they were getting a bit too comfortable with their role as the self-crowned Biggest Band In The World.
Fast forward to 2008. Coldplay’s newest release Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends has something that, after X&Y, I thought I’d never see from this band again: a sense of adventure. By the time you reach the second track, Cemeteries in London, it becomes apparent that the band has even managed to acquire a certain degree of novelty. Although they make no secret about the fact that they’ve borrowed various styles from other artists wherever they’ve seen fit, they’ve managed to do this in such a refreshing way that actually enhances their own pursuits rather than hindering them.
Take for example, the hidden track at the end of the folksy gem Yes, known as Chinese Sleep Chant, which incorporates the type of dreamy shoegaze style that My Bloody Valentine pioneered and championed. Except Coldplay dilutes the distortion and disarray with just enough melody to make their interpretation poppier, and even in a way prettier.
Or consider their lead single Violet Hill which, as one early critic accurately put it, could pass off as an offering from a White Stripes tribute band. The tactful inclusion of introductory synths and a piano outro complete with Martin’s quiet crooning makes all the difference, however, in turning a bland and senseless thumper into a crafty hit, which when complemented by the other (and, in this writer’s opinion, better) lead single, the magnificent Viva la Vida, gives the listener the impression that this time around, they weren’t trying to save any major labels’ asses.
Instead, they seemed to want to challenge themselves just enough in order to simply make some great and fresh new tunes—or else to please their new producer Brian Eno, who surely had no plans to let them create A Rush of Blood to the Head Pt. 3. Make no mistake: this time around, without the pressure to deliver, Coldplay does indeed just that.
Highlights: Cemeteries in London, Yes / Chinese Sleep Chant, Viva la Vida, Strawberry Swing
August 13 2008 05:38 pm | Uncategorized
August 16th, 2008 at 7:05 am
First of all, kudos to you Shiraz. I couldn’t have put it better myself. While both ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ and ‘X&Y’ were fantastic albums, they were definitely very very similar. Many bands have a signature style and stick to it, but sometimes it just gets a bit monotonous. Take The Killers and Nickelback for example, great great bands with awesome tunes, but sometimes you think, Wow that wasn’t too different from the last one!
It was lovely to see a fresh new side of Chris Martin’s genius, even if it is a slightly morbid side. Coldplay’s music has never been known to be this dark, and I think unless one listens carefully to the lyrics it might still be missed. Of course this is just one person’s opinion.
Being a Coldplay fan since the early days, I think this album could go either way with fans. People who have gotten accustomed to loving their classic tunes may not appreciate this new side of theirs, but I think this is a very closed minded view. It takes courage to step out of an established comfort zone, and they have done just that, and hit it spot on.
I need to stop talking now before this comment gets longer than the actual article.
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